Charlottesville & Monticello Final Regular Season Game Halted For Safety Concern After Scuffle
Charlottesville and Monticello final regular season game halted for safety concern after scuffle
It was an unfortunate end to what looked like a game with a promising finish. Senior night was spoiled at Monticello with the Mustangs facing cross-town rival Charlottesville as the game was called by officials after a small skirmish broke out. After the spat was initially contained, things took a turn for the worse when a handful of fans from both sides stepped onto the court. That led school officials and the Albemarle County police officers on hand to effectively and safely handle the issue by clearing out the school.
Once players were removed from the court, the two groups of fans were first separated, then told to leave at different intervals. Charlottesville fans left first and after a significant wait, Monticello fans departed. Both groups were escorted out of the building and made it without incident to their vehicles with police watching closely. No injuries were reported. Both teams waited in their respective locker rooms and were released independently after all fans had cleared the gym.
School officials from both sides will release a joint statement about the game today. The two schools will await the Virginia High School League’s ruling for repercussions over the event. Sources from both Charlottesville and Monticello informed Scrimmage Play that the decision to end the game and clear the building was based on the concern for fan and player safety at the advisement of the police. Coming into the night, the game had no ramifications in the Jefferson District standings.
Before the chaos broke out, Charlottesville held a 36-29 lead in the middle of the third quarter. Black Knights guard Demarcus Scott had 12 points and Deshaun Blakey had seven points and seven rebounds. Mustangs guard Jhalil Mosley had 14 points and four rebounds.
The Black Knights and Mustangs will only meet again if both teams advance to the Jefferson District tournament championship.
Charlottesville, the fourth seed in the tourney, hosts Louisa County on Friday at 7:30 p.m.
Monticello has a bye as the result of its second seed, earned by beating Western Albemarle last week. The Mustangs will play on Wednesday at 8 p.m at Western against either the Warriors or Powhatan.
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Scrimmage Play is at part to blame
I am a parent of an Mustang "Maniac" and you are at part to blame for this mess! You basically started a student section rivalry that unfortunately went viral. There was already talk before the game even started that this could get ugly. Let the students have fun without making the fan section more of a rivalry than the game!! The students are starting to gather personal information on the players and chant it while they are on the court. This is wrong in all areas!!! It has turned a fun thing into an ugly event. I'll be surprised if you post this but it is your responsibility to Print responsibly!!!! How could you not see this coming?
That being said, it's a shame that this happened. It turned a good season by both teams into a bad mark for both programs!
Mustang Maniac Parent
Being apart of the "Mustang Maniacs," I feel that it is wrong to accuse ScrimagePlay on an event that was strictly between the players. Our student section and the student section of the Black Knights never made any hateful comments towards each other at the game or online. What took place on the court was strictly between the players and had nothing to do with the fan sections. Sure, being high school students we are going to chant things to the other players, but again it is wrong to blame ScrimagePlay for our actions.
Monticello boys playing
Monticello boys playing tonight in richmond. Thats not right
blaming scrimmageplay?
Are you kidding? The press did not start, fuel, or otherwise encourage this (mis)conduct. Please, take responsibilty for your own actions.
Quotes from Scrimmage play
“We follow Scrimmage Play and (Western’s fans) were beating us on there,” *****said. “It’s crazy and we definitely played a huge role in the game.”
"The biggest question is, can the Maniacs sustain that kind of frenzied energy? We’ll see on Tuesday when the Mustangs host a suddenly red-hot Charlottesville High squad."
This is not adding fuel?? Research your facts before commenting on others!! You take responsibility for your research.. or lack-there-of!!!
Not saying SP is totally to blame.. Just saying that SP is becoming very popular, fans from the schools read it, and too much attention to one thing can bring out the worst in people... I personally love the Maniacs BUT... they shouldn't be bigger than the game itself!
research?
According to your AD, it was the PARENTS whose misconduct caused the game to be stopped--not the Maniacs. I guess you would argue, though, that SP somehow caused the parents to spill out on to the court. I'd always heard that the pen was mightier than the sword!
blame??
I personally don't think scrimmage play had anything to do with what happened that night. It was an incident that was taken out of proportion. A little scuffle on the side some how turned into a headline news story and front page on the sports section in the daily progress. Kid talk, they argue, harsh words will be spread no matter what the event is. I think our main concern here is if anyone was hurt or not.. not who wins the Jefferson district.. its a highschool basketball game look at the bigger picture. Everyone got away safely. So, in my opinion the whole ordeal should be dropped. The violence was sustained and controlled by school officials and police officers. It's over and done with.
Parent of Mustang Maniac
If you have a problem with ScrimagePlay or the student sections in the JD district then just stop coming to the games. Stop pointing fingers at Scrimmageplay and maybe talk to the players that insist on us coming. The Maniacs have taken the school by storm and it has been great for the basketball team and there success at home this season. Notice you are the only one that has a problem with the fan sections, if you feel that strongly about the subject then voice your opinion to the school board and not on ScrimmagePlay. They have only brought positive publicity to our schools and of course we are going to have a rivelry to Western, its Western!!!!! But notice we didn't break out in riot when we played them.. Charlottesville and Monticello has a lot of history between the two, way before ScrimmagePlay, so maybe I am not the one getting the facts wronge. Thanks
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